Cross posted from SDOT
The Route 40 Transit-Plus Multimodal Corridor project is ready to break ground! Construction is scheduled to begin in early June.
Working in partnership with the Seattle Department of Transportation (SDOT), the goals of the project are to reduce transit travel times, improve transit reliability, and increase safety and transit access along the Route 40 corridor.
Route 40 corridor improvements were first identified as part of the Levy to Move Seattle and King County Metro’s Metro Connects program.
Route 40 is one of Metro’s highest ridership routes, serving an average of over 7,000 customers each weekday. The route travels through the neighborhoods of Northgate, Crown Hill, Loyal Heights, Ballard, Fremont, South Lake Union, Downtown Seattle, and Pioneer Square.
It also connects with some of the highest ridership routes in our system, such as the RapidRide C, D, and E Lines, as well as Route 44. Additionally, Route 40 ends at the Northgate Transit Center, where many regional transit routes come together.
Route 40 buses are scheduled to arrive every 5 to 10 minutes during peak periods and stops are located approximately every quarter mile throughout the route. However, buses on this route are often slow and unreliable, impacting thousands of people who rely on transit. This project will identify and implement improvements that provide faster and more reliable transit service for Route 40 and other bus routes that share the corridor.
Route 40 improvements include:
- 3 miles of Businesses Access and Transit only lanes or Freight and Bus only lanes
- 47 upgraded curb ramps
- 8 new bus bulbs
- 6,000+ feet of upgraded sidewalks
- 3 new or upgraded crosswalks
Fremont Bus Stop
Based on feedback we heard from the Fremont business community, we are starting a process to move the proposed northbound bus stop on the northwest corner of Fremont Ave N and Fremont Pl N to approximately 250 ft west of it, next to the Lenin statue. As part of this new design change, we will be assessing what changes could be needed to other nearby bus zones along the new proposed bus stop.
Improvements made as part of this Transit-Plus Multimodal Corridor project will include:
- Dedicated bus lanes: Bus-only lanes that separate buses from traffic and improve transit travel times and reliability
- Signal upgrades or optimization: Transit signal priority extends or activates green lights to reduce waiting times for buses at signals
- Channelization changes or turn restrictions: Changes to lane markings, and restricting turns for other vehicles so that buses can move faster and avoid right-of-way conflicts, making all travelers safer
- Safety improvements: Improvements to crossings and transit connections to help people get to bus stops more easily and safely
- Sidewalk upgrades: Repaving sidewalks and upgrading curb ramps to become ADA-accessible in key locations
- New northbound bike lane connection on Fremont Ave N and Neighborhood Greenway connection near 20th Ave NW and Leary Way NW
Project Map:
Construction:
Crews will begin construction starting on Holman Road NW and 3RD Ave NW, and also on N 105th St and N Northgate Way and Aurora Ave N. Construction will include installing updated sidewalks, ADA-compliant curb ramps, and bus stop improvements.
Construction in Ballard will most likely start this summer while Fremont is scheduled to begin in 2025. We will proactively schedule this project to minimize conflicts, but as with all major construction, travelers should expect some disruptions and lane closures. We are also coordinating with the 15th Ave W/NW Paving and Ballard Bridge Safety Project which will start this summer.
Anticipated Construction Timeline
- 2024- Holman Road, N 105th St/ N Northgate Way and Aurora
- 2024/2025 – Ballard, Leary Way NW, Westlake Ave N
- 2025/2026 – Fremont
This timeline may change depending on weather conditions, crew and materials availability, or other circumstances. Visit SDOT’s online engagement hub to learn more about the project design.
After construction is complete, we will have the following improvements:
- Three miles total of business access and transit (BAT) or “Freight and Bus only” (FAB) lanes
- 6,000+ feet of upgraded sidewalks
- Three new or upgraded crosswalks
- Upgraded watermain in Fremont
- 47 upgraded curb ramps
- Eight new bus bulbs
- 5–10% transit travel time reductions
What you can expect during construction:
- Noise, dust, and large vehicle traffic
- Temporary parking restrictions for weeks at a time
- Short-term driveway closures
- Some nighttime and weekend work to minimize traffic impacts
Periodic traffic detours - Vehicle lane shifts around work zones
- Some full closures of major intersections
- Pedestrian and bicycle detours around the work
- Temporary utility service impacts
- Flaggers to help direct traffic, as needed
- Temporary bus detours and bus stop relocations
For more information, you can sign up to receive SDOT project and construction notifications. Find more project details on the project webpage.